France has put two Tesla cars on the road to test the company’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) (FSD). The authorities are proceeding ahead of an upcoming EU vote on the advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
According to French Minister of Transport Philippe Tarabot, two Teslas equipped with FSD are now road-testing the autonomous technology. The update follows the steps of other European countries such as the Netherlands, which granted provisional approval this year. Belgium, Estonia, Lithuania, and Denmark also gave Tesla a partial go-ahead.
In Switzerland, Tesla started offering FSD ride-alongs last month. The drive sessions, in which a staff member sits behind the wheel, allow the public to experience ADAS first-hand. Similar programs exist in France, Germany, Italy, and Hungary.
Tarabot further stated that consultation with Tesla CEO Elon Musk about FSD paved the way for the test to begin. The minister also collaborated with Tesla staff to develop technical adaptations for French roads. This was a departure from Tarabot’s July position that the safety risks posed by FSD outweighed the potential benefits.
The transport ministry plans to conclude the two-vehicle test in September. The results will allow France to verify FSD data provided by Tesla.
The timeline is perfect as the EU vote on permitting FSD Europe-wide can take place as early as October. Tarabot, however, did not state whether France would support Tesla during the vote.
Tesla is preparing for the EU vote. The EV maker open-sourced FSD safety evidence that it shared with EU regulators this month.
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